Cliff Kendall, Friend and Advocate of USG, Passes Away

It is with great sadness that we share the news that Clifford M. Kendall passed away on Wednesday, March 28, 2018.

Cliff Kendall was a great friend and true advocate for the Universities at Shady Grove (USG). As a visionary and one of the founders of USG, he believed firmly in the power of higher education and made it possible for hundreds of students to achieve their higher education goals. 

Cliff and Camille pioneered the first 2+2 scholarship program for students starting their higher education at Montgomery College and continuing on to complete their bachelor’s degree at USG.  In 2007, the Camille and Clifford Kendall Endowed Scholarship was created, which covers full tuition and fees for its scholars, and targets students who demonstrate financial need, great potential for success, and a spirit of community service. It started with six students and has grown to 20 students. In 2013, Cliff and Camille also established the Clifford M. and Camille E. Kendall Scholarship for University of Maryland, College Park students at USG. Since 2007, hundreds of students have received full scholarships to enable them to complete degrees from the public universities within the University System of Maryland who comprise the Universities at Shady Grove.

Cliff was an extraordinarily generous pillar of our community, a visionary businessman, and a mentor to hundreds of students. His commitment to USG was personal and exemplary, and he had a real desire to see students succeed. The Kendall Scholarships have put a higher degree within reach of many students who have the will but not always the economic means to realize that goal.  We are deeply grateful to Cliff for his wisdom, kindness and generosity that transformed so many lives throughout the USG community. 

Among his many contributions, Cliff served as a mentor to many members of our community.  He worked tirelessly to connect the business, education and philanthropic sectors of our community to make Montgomery County and the state of Maryland a better place to work, live and be educated.  He understood the importance of hard work and exemplified a commitment to giving back to support the next generation of leaders.   He expected much from all of us, and particularly the students whom he and Camille supported to obtain higher education degrees. 

Cliff recognized the importance of higher education to Montgomery County, its residents and its businesses.  He was one of the community leaders who came together to establish USG and served on its first Board of Advisors.  His personal support, counsel and vision made it possible for USG to grow and establish itself within the county.  His mentorship in those early, critical days, helped establish an educational collaboration between Montgomery College and USG, that is unique in our state and nation.  USG is forever indebted to him for sharing his wisdom and his unpretentious, respectful leadership style and for staying connected to USG throughout its history.      

Clifford Kendall founded Computer Data Systems, Inc. in 1968, and has been called a founding father of the Washington area’s 270 high-tech corridor. He served on the University System of Maryland Board of Regents for 10 years; 8 of those as Chairman, and served on the USG Board of Advisors until the time of his passing. He was the former Chairman and CEO of Computer Data Systems, Inc., and a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, and George Washington University. He was also the founder and past chairman of the Montgomery County Community Foundation.

With great humility, Cliff was a titan in our community. He gave us the gift of his good work that will live on for many generations in the people he touched and in the institutions he helped build.  

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